Seed metering device

Abstract

A seed metering system comprising a housing, a seed pick-up disc with a singulating member and one or more resilient members. The housing defines a space therewith which is partitioned by a rotating seed pick-up disc. The seed pick-up disc is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart seed holding grooves. The housing accommodates seeds within a portion of the space which are picked up by the seed holding grooves during rotation of the seed pick-up disc. The singulating member cooperates with the seed pick-up disc to eliminate excess seed within each of the seed holding grooves to ensure sowing of single seed at regular intervals.

We claim: 
     
       1. A seed metering device comprising:
 a housing having a front cover and a rear cover, said housing defining an enclosed space therein forming a seed puddle area to contain seeds therein and a seed dispensing opening to dispense seeds from said housing; 
 a seed pick-up disc disposed within said housing, partitioning said enclosed space into a seed inlet and a seed outlet, said seed pick-up disc having a plurality of seed holding grooves, circumferentially spaced apart by a predefined distance, each of said seed holding grooves defines a seed pick-up portion, proximate said front cover, and at least one seed dispensing portion, proximate said rear cover; 
 a seed singulating member having at least one seed eliminating member associated with said seed pick-up disc for facilitating removal of excess seeds from said seed pick-up portion and 
 at least one resilient member mounted on said housing, said at least one resilient member guiding seeds relative to said seed holding grooves wherein said at least one resilient member includes a second resilient strip to hold the seed picked up by said seed holding grooves therein. 
 
     
     
       2. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said seed dispensing portions is shaped to define a first seed dispensing section and a second seed dispensing section, said first seed dispensing section being defined between said seed pick-up portion and said second seed dispensing section. 
     
     
       3. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said singulating member separates said seed pick-up portion and said seed dispensing portion about at least a portion of said seed pick-up disc. 
     
     
       4. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the seed pick-up portion has an arcuate shape to pick up seeds contained within the housing seed puddle area. 
     
     
       5. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one seed eliminating member projects into said seed pick-up portion of said seed holding grooves, each of said at least one seed eliminating member facilitating removal of excess seeds within each of said seed pick-up portions. 
     
     
       6. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one resilient member includes a first resilient strip to facilitate the seeds to be guided into said seed holding grooves from said seed puddle area. 
     
     
       7. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one resilient member includes a third resilient strip to guide seed from said seed pick-up portion to said seed dispensing portion, said third resilient strip lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of said seed pick-up disc. 
     
     
       8. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one resilient member includes a dispensing guide to urge seed from the seed dispensing portion to be dropped to the ground. 
     
     
       9. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one resilient member includes a displacing guide to urge seed in the second dispensing section toward said first dispensing section. 
     
     
       10. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first seed dispensing section communicates with said seed dispensing opening and said second seed dispensing section communicates said seed puddle area. 
     
     
       11. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of said rear side of said housing is shaped to enable conveying a seed from said second seed dispensing section to said seed puddle area. 
     
     
       12. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said housing and said seed pick-up disc are made of material selected from the group consisting a metal and a polymeric material. 
     
     
       13. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one resilient member is made of at least one of a plurality of bristles and a flexible material. 
     
     
       14. A seed metering device comprising:
 a housing having a front cover and a rear cover, said housing defining an enclosed space therein forming a seed puddle area to contain seeds therein and a seed dispensing opening to dispense seeds from said housing; 
 a seed pick-up disc disposed within said housing, partitioning said enclosed space into a seed inlet and a seed outlet, said seed pick-up disc having a plurality of seed holding grooves, circumferentially spaced apart by a predefined distance, each of said seed holding grooves defines a seed pick-up portion, proximate said front cover, and at least one seed dispensing portion, proximate said rear cover; 
 a seed singulating member having at least one seed eliminating member associated with said seed pick-up disc for facilitating removal of excess seeds from said seed pick-up portion; and 
 at least one resilient member mounted on said housing, said at least one resilient member guiding seeds relative to said seed holding grooves wherein said at least one resilient member includes a first resilient strip to facilitate the seeds to be guided into said seed holding grooves from said seed puddle area, a second resilient strip to hold the seed picked up by said seed holding grooves, and a third resilient strip to guide seed from said seed pick-up portion to said seed dispensing portion. 
 
     
     
       15. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said at least one resilient member further includes a displacing guide to urge seed in the second dispensing section toward said first dispensing section. 
     
     
       16. The seed metering device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said first resilient strip, said second resilient strip, and said third resilient strip are made of at least one of a plurality of bristles and a flexible material.